Oxford a to Z: What You Need to Know
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OXFORD A TO Z: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW **Highlighted information indicates action/important items for you.** PROGRAM WEBSITE The majority of program information can be found on the program website. PROGRAM CALENDAR AND CLASS SCHEDULE The program calendar and class schedule are published when the program opens for applications. Both are subject to change, and when changes occur, students who have applied to the program receive notifications via e-mail of those changes. Please check periodically to ensure you know what is planned, where you need to be, and when you need to be there. Many events, especially field trips, are mandatory components of the program, and you need to be prepared. You can also find the date of the final exams on both documents. You MUST arrive in time for the mandatory Orientation on Sunday, July 21st at 7 pm. You may depart after your final performance, either Thursday, August 1st or Friday, August 2nd, but the actual check-out time is on Saturday, August 3rd. OXFORD FACEBOOK GROUP A private Facebook group is set up for each program. The link is sent to the group periodically as new applicants apply. The intention of the group is an effort to facilitate the participants getting to know each other prior to arrival in the Oxford. There is no pressure to join, but we have used these for our programs in the past and find that it is a great way for the students to get familiar with each other before they arrive to the program and meet in person. It is also a great way to find people to join you in activities on the Island. During the program, it is often used as a message board for gatherings, posting pictures, etc. Staff from the International Programs Office as well as the faculty members and Resident Directors are often members of this group, so please keep it clean because we'll be watching! Only those participating in this study abroad program are admitted into this group - it is very much a closed group. If you have a name on Facebook that is not similar to your real name, please notify The International Programs Office as she will not allow you into the group if she does not recognize your name. While items will be posted in this group, it is a secondary mode of communication. Important information posted in the group will be repeated in an e-mail for those who choose not to join the Facebook group. No one will miss out on program information because he/she did not join the Facebook group. Oxford A to Z: What you Need to Know - 1 OXFORD PRACTICAL GUIDE An Oxford Practical Guide is available on the program website. Additional practical information about the program and location are answered in this document, so please be sure to take a look at it early in the process of applying. It is a quick read, but chock full of good information! THE APPLICATION PROCESS STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW STUDENTS: To be eligible for Oxford program you need to have completed your 1L year, be in good standing, and have a minimum GPA of 2.25. If you meet these criteria, you may complete the online application. It is not necessary to pay your program deposit at the time you start your application; however, paying your program deposit will secure your spot in the program. You will not be accepted into the program until you have paid your program deposit. NON-STETSON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW STUDENTS: We welcome your applications and participation in our program! Our programs are richer for having students from other law schools in them, so no admission preference is given to Stetson University College of Law students. Most schools will require you to submit paperwork to them in advance of committing to our program, so you may need to start with your home institution first. The criteria for non-Stetson University College of Law students are 1) completion of your 1L year, 2) be in good standing with your home institution, and 3) currently attend an ABA-approved law school. Your home institution will likely have a minimum GPA requirement, so you will want to check with them to be sure you meet their criteria as well. WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU 1) Law School Questionnaire (LSQ) – Within your application, you will find the Law School Questionnaire. You will print out this document, complete the top section and sign it, then give it to your school (usually the Dean of Academics). Your school will complete the rest of the document and scan or mail it directly to the International Programs Office. Your application will reflect when we receive your LSQ. 2) Official Transcripts – Please send an official law school transcript to the following address: Attn: International Programs Office Stetson University College of Law 1401 61st St S Gulfport FL 33707 Note: If you are an attorney or are a law student from another country, please contact The International Programs Office directly. APPLICATION DEADLINE March 15, 2019. If the program is not full, it may be possible that we can extend this deadline into mid-April. However, this program is extremely popular, and if you are truly interested, you should sign up for the program to receive notifications if the program begins to fill with deposits before the application deadline. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/OBLIGATION After April 1st, you are financially responsible for the program in its entirety. This includes the cost of tuition, housing, fees, and any other costs Stetson University College of Law has incurred on your behalf. Should you withdraw after April 1st, you are still financially obligated for these costs. Oxford A to Z: What you Need to Know - 2 FINANCIAL AID All of our programs are eligible for financial aid. The aid covers items listed in the Student Budget posted on the program website. Please contact your financial aid office when you commit to the program so you can complete the additional required paperwork necessary to facilitate the processing of your financial aid package for this program (and there will be additional paperwork!). The e-mail address for the Stetson University College of Law Financial Aid Office is [email protected]. Should you have further questions, or need to send a consortium agreement, please contact them directly. STUDENT AGREEMENT FORM Please read this agreement prior to digitally signing it. You will be held to the standards asserted in this document, and you should know what it is to which you are agreeing. PASSPORTS Yes, you will need one. You are also required to provide your passport information in your application, complete with a copy of the photo page of your passport. Please be sure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months past the return date of your travel – this follows U.S. State Department guidance as many countries require this. Better safe than sorry! TRAVEL ITINERARY We ask that you provide us with your flight into and out of Oxford (London). You can fly into either London Gatwick or London Heathrow (closest). Oxford is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from the London Gatwick airport by bus, and 1 hour from the London Heathrow airport by bus. NON-STETSON STUDENTS ONLY: TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM Located in your study abroad application, please print out and complete the Transcript Request Form, then scan it to the International Programs Office. We need this on file to send your Stetson University College of Law transcript to your home institution when the program is over. Please send this form by July 15th. This first transcript is free if the form is received by July 15th. If it is not received, you will need to request the transcript from our website at a cost of $7.25 per transcript: https://secure.studentclearinghouse.org/tsorder/faces/TranscriptOrder?_afrLoop=917950468677201&_afrWindo wMode=0&_adf.ctrl-state=vb6eu7fwr_4#firstload. BEFORE YOU GO STETSON E-MAIL ACCOUNTS FOR NON-STETSON STUDENTS Non-Stetson students will receive Stetson e-mail credentials from the International Programs Office around mid- May. Please set this e-mail up and ensure that it is working prior to leaving for the program. You will need these credentials for several reasons: 1) To pay your invoice online; 2) To access wifi in the Oxford classroom/housing; and 3) To access your grades. Do NOT wait until you arrive in Oxford to set up your account as IT help is not available there, and you may encounter difficulty accessing the wifi in Oxford! Oxford A to Z: What you Need to Know - 3 PAY YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE Your account balance must be paid prior to your arrival to the program. If you encounter issues with financial aid availability with your school, please let the International Programs Office know as soon as possible at [email protected] so we can work with you. Late payments incur late fees that start at $200! REGISTER FOR U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE’S SMART TRAVELER ENROLLMENT PROGRAM (STEP) We strongly encourage everyone to enroll in the U.S. Department of State's STEP program. It takes about 2 minutes (tops), and puts you on their notification list while you are overseas. Their definition of the program: “The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.” Please see the STEP Enrollment page (https://step.state.gov/step/) for more information, and please do take the time to register your trip with them.